Never got them .I cant stand him ,horrible little guy.

I just listened to "This Charming Man" and I couldn't stop laughing at his whiny voice.

I get them, but I don't like them. Doom and gloom.

No never liked them either.  Over-rated and shyte, like a LOT of bands and artists from the last 20-30 years.  They become popular though because people jump on the bandwagon when NME and so on informs everyone that they are 'edgy' and 'cool.'

Oh I am feeling quite relieved that I am not the only one 

And Heaven Knows You're Miserable Now?

Morrissey  = Pretentious twit.  

What was he doing with that gladioli in his pocket anyway? 

Preston of BB fame fashioned himself on Morrissey ,eejit.

That Joke isn't Funny Anymore

Perhaps he was just glad to see you?

Did he?
Well he didn't do a good job IMO

Not a fan of them or Morrissey per se, but this is one of my favourite songs

I won't rise to your nonsense. I'm A Charming Man and refuse to Panic even though my Girlfriend's In A Coma.

That at least is a song Karma and doesn't sort of start in the middle like most of the Smith's stuff does,

I see Bigmouth Strikes Again

It's a bit like REM, don't like most of their stuff but 'At My Most Beautiful' makes me blub. (Just posted it in the song thread)

To be fair, most groups tend to have one song that I would like.
I am not a fan of Bon Jovi but I love "You give Love a bad name"

I never could and still cannot stand the smiths or morrissey.  That friggin song he did recently (I say recently, I mean in the last 8 years) about the 'first one to die' 

I feel vindicated - thanks Cinds et al

Issy let's form a possy and hunt the morrissey down and whack him around the head with long stemmed flowers 

Any more of that kind of talk and I'll be meeting you at the Cemetery Gates 

I think we should - then there really would be panic on the streets of London

Alas! In my opinion they are one of the better bands of the eighties. Excellent lyrics and a fab guitarist. The only issue I have is the dangerous subliminal messages. If you played the old vinyl backwards you could definitely hear, "Be Happy! Be Happy!" (the old ones are the best!"

Well clearly you think I started something I couldn't finish but you would be wrong because There is a Light that NEVER goes out.

You see Joe this is what I am struggling with - I really do not think the lyrics are all that great.

One of the lyrics I think of almost everyday goes along the lines of, "because the music that they constantly play, says nothing to me about my life!" a true classic line! IMHYCO.

Yes but why should it?
I mean why should it say anything to him about his life...

I don't get Take That. How the hell did they have the top selling album this year?

Anyway, The Smiths had their moments but they are of more appeal for the more morose, introverted and perhaps troubled of listener. The Smiths are a more private band to be listened to alone and possibly through headphones.  That's not to say they didn't have their popier moments like "Panic".

Many people, mostly of a certain age, feel that Morissey's lyrics were profound summaries of their inner feelings and for others the lyrics make for uncomfortable listening that can be a little whiny and loaded with student/teenage angst that people do tend to grow out of. The Smiths were also of their time and their songs like "Meat is Murder" and image extolled a lifestyle that struck a chord with many young people at the time.

TBH, you're either the sort of person who gets the Smith or you're not.  There's no need to try to like them.  I don't try to like Take That or the Kings of Leon, they're crap (in my subjective opinion of course) and that's that!

After the excitement of the 60/70's, music, as showcased on the radio, seemed to take a dive in the 80's.

... And I'm probably morose, troubled, and introverted.

Morissey was an excellent lyricist in the vein of Bowie/McCartney/Weller etc and he was a pretty good vocalist but overused the same melody a bit imo. I still loved them though. Johnny Marr is an unbelievable guitarist as anyone other than someone whose ears aren't functioning correctly will readily attest to. Morissey's biggest mistake was leaving the Smiths. Ditto Johnny Marr. They've both been shite ever since 

I thought the same when McCullough left the Bunnymen. He really has been utter rubbish since then. Same with Weller leaving The Jam though I know many people will disagree on that point.

I really can't believe you said that  So much of their music is upbeat, melodic and fast paced yet you focus on Morrisey's lyrics as some kind of beacon call to the terminally depressed. lol that really is just laughable 

Issy

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Yes but why should it?
I mean why should it say anything to him about his life...

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But why shouldn't it?  There are millions of songs about girl meets boy meets girl, make ups, break ups, loves lost, love found that say something on that level, but being in/out of love love found/lost aren't our only 24/7 preoccupations.

If Morrissey felt passionately about the meat industry, which he did and does, couldn't he ask why all the records he heard were about the relationships of idealised beautiful people or materialistic concerns of rap and hip hop groups rather than the slaughter of animals?  Music in the mid 80s was pretty much like that (as it is today) if I recall.  That's why The Smiths had such a loyal fanbase.

I'm not a vegetarian but I get what he was saying.

I am of that certain age. I can remember the Smiths well and have tried to see why Morrissey is seen as a musical genius.

I must have defunct ears as well because actually Prom I cannot see what is so marvellous about Johnny Marr's guitar playing skills over anyone else of that genre.

I also agree with Carnelian - their music is very depressing and I think Morrissey has one of the worst voices I have ever heard

Just my opinion of course..

Prometheus
I really can't believe you said that  So much of their music is upbeat, melodic and fast paced yet you focus on Morrisey's lyrics as some kind of beacon call to the terminally depressed. lol that really is just laughable 

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I know they did, but they also had that darker side that generally won't appeal to fans of Take That. That darker side really isn't present in most bands, so they were a beacon call to the terminally depressed.  That's not to say all Smiths fans were all like that and didn't know how to have fun, just that they had more than their fair share of the depressed (terminally or otherwise).

To be honest, "That Joke isn't Funny Anymore", "Meat is Murder", "How Soon Is Now?", "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want", "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" aren't really party anthems!

Morrisey is a crap musician, I refuse to go for his morose monotone crap music and attitudes. I've listened to an interview lately and the guy is a complete moron. Get with it, wake up and smell life, noting is qute as bad as you say it is unless you have had a death in the family, which you have not, so eff off.

Now don't you hold back Cologne - just say what you think

Most 'good' bands or at least bands recognised as popular outside of the chart drivel have a dark side and it's a good thing. It's a recognition of all facets of life. It doesn't make them miserable just by commenting on emotional upheavals or social situations they don't agree with. This myth that the Smiths are miserable comes soley from Morissey's vocal delivery, nothing else. He sounds miserable even when he isn't.

To argue that people who like the Smiths must be morose and depressed is just ridiculous. I love bands who are really upbeat, I love bands who are reflective, I love bands that are atmospheric am I really drifting between varying stages of multiple identity crisis just because of the music I'm listening to at the time?

Ah! One can't argue with any criticism of himself in those terms. One of the worst Desert Island Disc appearances ever, and a constant ability to put his foot in his mouth politically. Yet the music remains interesting.